Attachment to reaping machines for the purpose of lifting fallen grain



Jan. 2, 1934. J. HARKNESS 1,942,286

ATTACHMENT TO REAPING MACHINES FOR THE PURPOSE LIFTING FALLEN GRAIN Filed Sept. 12. 1932 l atenteci Jan. 2 1934 UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE ATTACHMENT T REAPING MACHINES FOR THE PURPOSE OF LIFTING FALLEN GRAIN Application September 12,

1932, Serial No.

632,821, and in Great Britain October 1,

2 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in or relating to attachments to reaping machines for the purpose of lifting fallen grain.

In reaping machines at present in existence,

5 in the event of the grain lifter getting into contact with and striking a high piece of ground or bank, the lifter runs into and buries itself in the ground, and. becomes twisted up or distorted, and the object of my invention is to so construct the lifter to obviate this.

According to my invention, I make the striking point of the lifter a separate part thereof, and of triangular formation, but hinged thereto,'so that in striking against a high piece of ground or bank, the hinged point pivots downwards, and is raised again to its normal position by the action of a helical or other spring. This lifter raises the grain and carries it along a guide-arm and rod towards the fans, all as hereinafter described with reference to the drawing and pointed out in the claims.

In order that my invention may be properly understood and readily carried into effect, I have hereunto appended one sheet of drawings, of

which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a grain lifter illustrating my invention.

Figure 2 is a plan of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a side elevation showing hinged point after striking a high piece of ground or bank.

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic side view showing position of lifter relative to binder.

Referring to the drawing, A is an arm of the lifter preferably of channel steel pivotally fixed to a suitable bracket B, which bracket B is suitably attached to the cutter-bar C of the binder. The steel point D at the front end of the arm A is hinged at D. Pivoted to the steel point D is a guide-arm E of fluted sheet steel, or other suitable metal, the rear portion of which rests on a rod F, which rod F is hinged at one end to the arm A of the lifter, the spring G and linkrod H being connected between the hinged point D and the rod F. I are the fans, and J the supporting-wheel of the binder. K is the ordinary finger-bar in such machines, which is fixed to the lifter. L is a little fiuted guide fixed to the arm A behind the hinge F of the rod F and covers the point of the finger K to prevent lying grain from getting between the finger K and the arm A the wrong way.

When in use, the hinged steel point D goes under the beat-down grain and raises it along ,55 the guide-arm E and rod F towards the fans I,

and in the event of the hinged point D encountering a raised portion on the ground or bank, it turns down on its pivot or hinge and round the raised part or bank, the action of the spring resisting this movement of the point D raises it up to its normal position when clear of the raised portion of the ground or bank.

In the event of the fans I striking the rod F, the rod goes down and prevents breakage of any of the fans, and also releases the entangled grain.

I claim 1. In an attachment for reaping machines provided with a supporting frame, a device for lifting fallen grain comprising an arm fixed to the frame, a striker member pivotally mounted on the arm, a hook-shaped rod having a short and a long finger, means for pivotally mounting the short finger to the fixed arm supported by the frame, whereby contact with the long finger permits movement of the rod, a guide rail connected to the striker member, and having its free end rest upon the long finger, and a spring for connecting the rod and the striker member to permit movement of these parts, and to provide means for restoring the same to initial position.

2. In an attachment for reaping machines provided with a supporting frame, a device for lifting fallen grain comprising an arm having its rear end fixed to the frame, a striker member formed with triangular shaped side faces, a pin for pivotally mounting the striker member to the forward end of the arm whereby the striker member provides the initial portion of an inclined guideway, a rod pivotally mounted intermediate the ends of the fixed arm and bent to form the final portion of the guideway, a guide rail pivotally mounted to the striker member and having a free end portion to rest upon the inclined end of the rod to form the intermediate portion of the guideway, and a spring for connecting the rod and the striker member to permit movement of the striker member and to restore the same to initial position.

JOHN HARKNESS. 

